U.S. deaths in Libya linked to video promoted by Gainesville pastor

A New York Times article links the death of the United States ambassador to Libya, J. Christopher Stevens, and three others in his staff to a video mocking the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The attack by an armed mob took place on Tuesday evening at the American Consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

The video, “Innocence of Muslims,” by Sam Bacile, a California real estate developer, gained international attention after Gainesville pastor Terry Jones promoted it along with his “International Judge Muhammad Day” on Sept. 11, according to the article.

Jones brought international attention to Gainesville in 2010 when he planned to burn hundreds of Korans to mark the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorists attacks. He later called the event off.

In a press release from Jones on Tuesday, he said the movie revealed the “satirical fashion” of Muhammad’s life. According to the Time’s article, the movie depicts the Islamic prophet as a womanizer, a homosexual and a child molester.

“It is an American production, not designed to attack Muslims but to show the destructive ideology of Islam,” he said in the press release.

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